Friday, June 26, 2009

What we have been up to lately

So, last weekend we had Angela Moen, from the Button Farm, http://thebuttonfarm.com/blog/ here to teach three classes. She is a terrific teacher and a great designer. The classes were filled. We will be having Angela back the first weekend in December to teach three Holiday classes.


We have had these very cool magnet boards in the store for a while so I decided to make up a sample. Dimensions are 14 x 20 inches, and it comes with three wood-covered magnets. See the photo below.
I used Claudine Helmuth's Studio Paint as a base, added Ranger Dimensional Pearls, in bright colors. After that dried I then rubbed Vintage Photo Distress ink all over and wiped most of it off. This softened the brightness while keeping the color scheme. Stamping was done in assorted Stazon ink colors. (The metal piece comes out for all this painting.) I added ribbon along the side of the metal backing before I put it back in. We also sell the assorted magnetized pieces that are attached, and I made a few magnets by gluing (Zip Dry) some of Tim Holtz' Ideology keys to small round magnets. I sprayed Grungeboard letters with Maya Road Mists, attached them to spell the store name, and added some Ideology gears and spinner arrows along the right side...again-Zip Dry.
Use your imagination...this can be done in any style. I will, of course, make one up as an Advent calendar, and year-round calendar for my house.



In honor of my actually returning to blogging, I am doing a Give-AWAY!! Leave me a message on the blog about what kind of class you would like to see us offer, and we will choose an entry randomly. The prize is the first Tim Holtz video DVD. We will announce the name of the winner and then you can send us your address and we will mail it to you or you can come in to pick it up. I would really love to hear what techniques or paper companies you would like to work with. I will give you five days to respond. I will make the random drawing at noon on Wednesday, July 1. If you live too far away to attend a class, we will happily accept your entry of a great class idea.

6 comments:

  1. I was about to send you an email about classes - then I saw your "giveaway" offer! I was wondering if you have ever had Wendy Vecchi in to teach a class. I know you had Tim Holtz last year, and I couldn't make the class, but she's amazing! I love every single thing she does - and she's got just the right amount of grunge in her work. Please let me know if this is a possibility, and if so, keep me posted! I am interested in some of her stamps. Do you carry them? I would be interested if you ever have Tim Holtz back. Another Maya Road DT member who has fabulous style, and I bet she teaches, is Katie Watson. These are some classes I'd be interested in taking!
    Thanks,
    Kathy Stark
    kathleenstark@ptcnh.net

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  2. I would love to take a "grungeboard" technique class with Ranger materials. I have been very much in to TIm Holtz's techniques lately and would love for the opportunity to learn how to better use the supplies that I have.

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  3. It would be great to have Wendy Vecchi back!

    I'm really loving all the Graphic 45 paper and the new Webster's Pages paper too. Classes featuring either of those would be fun.

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  4. Really enjoy the multi day classes with BIG projects. It would be really SWELL if we could have Claudine Hellmuth come for a visit or Cheryl Darrow and her Fab metal.

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  5. For classes:
    Years ago, you taught an on-going class of techniques. We had a big journal book and we started with A for ATCs, B for Brayering...T for tattered Angels Sprays, etc. A repeat would be nice. I missed the calligraphy class and woud like to see that again and maybe borders for journal pages. There are some new items in the store that I don't know how to use. Of course, I can't remember the name, but I didn't know what it was either.

    For Product:
    I would love to see some Cornish Heritage Farm stamps and Oxford Impressions stamps (love their style)and last Character Construction stamps would love to see.

    Thanks,
    Georgia London

    PS I won't be at NYOBC. I am in Maryland with my father who is in rehab. Not returning to MA until July 11.

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  6. Hi, Kate!

    THANKS! for asking!

    I would love to see some technique classes like :
    teabag folding,
    iris folding,
    dreamweaver stencil classes...(like embossing, paste, metalic, shadow art), the art of paper piercing - either using the bordabilities or other stencils,
    howto use those big white plastic stencils that you sell - I have no idea what to do with them
    classes using some of the new Spellbinders - (example the new pendants and bordabilities - I've already seen some outstanding samples online).
    Ribbon art (I can send a link of samples if you are interested) and ribbon flowers
    Paper folding classes - like how to make the spring cards or make and decorate step cards or exploding boxes or pyramid boxes, etc
    paper quilling techniques,
    paper weaving techniques and uses;
    different card folds - example: shutter cards, trifolds, never-ending cards, insert cards - like flowerpots, shirt & vest cards, etc.,
    brayering techniques - like Zindorf

    Maybe these are simple classes, so a Stamp Camp featuring a bunch of them with a theme.

    Would you ever consider featuring the artwork of your customers? like pick a theme or a product feature...and post what your customers have created - get some new ideas and spark creativity?

    Feature a Guest Artist from your client base...monthly/bi-monthly?

    Consider sponsoring a Shoe Box Swap? or a Stamp Camp where the customers/participants bring their ideas based on product or technique spotlights?

    Appreciate your asking...hope to see some presented!

    Feel free to contact me if you have questions

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